ONE of Scotland’s most senior police officers has lost a legal ­challenge over his security ­clearance after taking a £250,000 loan from a convicted criminal.

Assistant Chief Constable John Mauger took a £250,000 loan from a convicted criminal

John Mauger, an Assistant Chief Constable, lost his status after it emerged he had borrowed the money and tried to “minimise” their relationship.

He is currently “on a period of leave” and was given the sum for home improvements by Brian Rix, who has convictions for firearms offences, fraud and assault.

When questioned, Mr Mauger told a senior colleague that he did not know where Rix lived and refused to hand over contact details.

A judge ruled that a review panel which looked at the case was entitled to conclude that Mr Mauger was “attempting to minimise his relationship” with Rix, whom he had met at a music festival in England.

Lord Philip rejected the judicial review challenge Mr Mauger brought against the Chief ­Constable and refused him a court order against the Scottish Police Authority terminating his employment as an assistant chief constable.

In the action it was said that the refusal to give the 53-year-old former Metropolitan Police officer management vetting clearance “is almost certain to result in the end of the petitioner’s career with the police”.

Mr Mauger said he had security clearance with the Met and obtained it when he joined Central Scotland Police in 2009 but it was refused by the new Police Scotland national force in 2014.

He said that from about 2007, while living in England, he developed a friendship with Rix.

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Mr Mauger borrowed the cash from Rix in 2013 for work on his home in Essex but later repaid it.

He said he learned of Rix’s past from the latter’s wife, a barrister, when the couple split and court action was taken over his assets.

Mr Mauger was refused vetting clearance in 2014 and again last year at a review panel hearing.

He was given material considered by the force vetting officer, including a newspaper report in which Rix criticised Mr Mauger’s treatment by Police Scotland because of their friendship.

Ailsa Carmichael QC, for Mr Mauger, argued that the decision should be set aside and sent back to the panel to be looked at again.

He wrote a civil court character witness for Rix

But Lord Philip said in his opinion that Mr Mauger “repeatedly failed to provide notifiable information concerning his relationship with Rix”.

He added that there had been “inconsistency and evasion” in statements about the purpose of the loan and the return of funds.

Lord Philip said: “He also denied knowledge of Rix’s addresses although he had visited Rix’s homes several times.”

The Scottish Police Authority said it “welcomed” the ruling.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We note Lord Philip’s judgment and his expressed support for the ­processes undertaken by Police Scotland in relation to this matter and the decision which was ultimately reached.”

The action to strip Mr Mauger of his clearance followed a failed attempt to oust him from his post.

He was cleared of misconduct in May 2014 after three years on £115,000-a-year gardening leave after a dispute with former chief constable Kevin Smith at Central Scotland Police.

However, the case, which has cost the taxpayer approximately £1million, fell apart and Mr Mauger returned to work just as Police Scotland was formed.

He maintains he declared his friendship with Rix to senior officers and on his Police Scotland vetting forms before returning.

Rix was sentenced to community service for possessing a stun gun in May 2000 and in 1993 was given 28 days in jail for having a loaded shotgun in public.

He also has convictions for assault, dishonesty and handling stolen goods dating back to the 1970s.

The Scottish Police Authority argues that is enough to dismiss Mr Mauger under the rules of the new national force and demanded his resignation.

Mr Mauger, a former Met officer who lives in London, had regularly attended soul weekends in Caister, Norfolk, organised by Rix.

He wrote a civil court character witness for Rix and they shared family dinners.

In their ruling against Mr Mauger, force chiefs said it was “improper” for him to write a reference and “infer the tacit approval of Police Scotland”.